15 Day Group Family Holiday in Sri Lanka
15 Day Group Family Holiday in Sri Lanka
The 15 day Family Holiday Tour to the Pearl of the Indian Ocean is the most suited package to enjoy great family time with excitement. During the family tour, you will be able to witness the best of the best in Sri Lanka. The stunning wildlife, historical wonders, marvellous forest reserves, tall mountain peaks, mesmerizing sceneries, golden beaches, mysterious seas and much more can be explored. With cycling, rafting and hiking, your family adventure time will be an unforgettable one. It is the best you can give to yourself, your loved ones and kids.
Highlights of Sri Lanka Itinerary
Plenty of down time for the children to use the pools at the hotels
A stay of 2 or 3 nights at each hotel so the children can unpack and settle down
Opportunities to see rather more of Sri Lanka than the average tour
Three full days at the end of the tour to relax on the beach
Prices start from : £965 per Adult and
£700 per Child
Description
We understand what it is like to travel with children, after all we have some of our own! We have designed this tour specifically to keep both children and adults happy – knowing that happy children means a happy family holiday!
Sri Lanka, often known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is a very special Island with a long and varied history. It is ideal for family holidays with plenty to do and see for all ages; beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, stunning scenery, ancient cities and historical temples. The people of Sri Lanka are as special as the Island being charming, full of fun and most of all, very welcoming.
Our Sri Lankan family holidays are designed to be fun with plenty to interest the whole family and be relaxing for both parents and children!
Itinerary
Day 1
Transfer from airport to NEGOMBO (30mins to Negombo). Negombo is one of the west coast’s best beach resorts and has many bars and restaurants. Room booked from 2pm.
Overnight at Rani Beach Hotel, Negombo or similar.
Day 2
Drive to the heart of the Cultural Triangle and visit the fabulous GOLDEN TEMPLE AT DAMBULLA(UNESCO World Heritage Site) where the kids can marvel over the huge lion’s mouth! There are five caves here containing approximately 200 statues of Lord Buddha.
Afternoon to relax by the pool.
Overnight at Flower Garden Eco village, Habarana or similar.
Day 3
Do a GAME DRIVE INTO MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK (it may be that due to the location of the elephants that you will do a game drive into Hurulu Oya National Park or Kaudulla National Park instead, which are very close to each other.
Midday break of a couple of hours to relax by the pool.
Climb the iconic LION ROCK AT SIGIRIYA (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which stands about 650ft high and was a capital of Sri Lanka in the 5th century and a magnificent rock fortress. There is much to see here including water gardens, mirror wall, frescoes, Cobra cave and lion’s paws which will really grab the children’s imagination. From the top, there are fabulous views of the surrounding countryside and mountains in the distance.
Overnight at Flower Garden Eco village, Habarana or similar.
Day 4
Optional excursion to POLONNARUWA (£25pp) – we leave it is as optional in case the children think they are seeing too many temples/ruins. Polonnaruwa was the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka and dates to 10th – 12th century A.D. Polonnaruwa is the most visited ancient city in Sri Lanka and contains some of it most famous monuments.
Take a BIKE RIDE through the villages using small back roads, where you can experience the real Sri Lankan walk of life. You will cycle past a series of man-made lakes where there is very rich bird life and unusual wildlife such as Monitor Lizard, Chameleon and Mongoose etc. Halfway through the ride, you will have refreshments of King Coconut.
Overnight at Flower Garden Eco village, Habarana or similar.
Day 5
Drive to KANDY (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – this Royal city was the last indigenous capital of Sri Lanka. Kandy is situated about 1500 ft above sea level and is said to be the most picturesque of all the Sri Lankan cities as it nestles in the hills with the Lake at the bottom.
On the way, visit a SPICE GARDEN, where you can take a walk round the garden to see how they grow and learn about Ayurvedic medicine.
In Kandy, visit the GEM MUSEUM where you can see the products of the traditional (and rather scary) methods of gem mining, especially the famous Sri Lankan sapphires of cornflower blue.
Watch the CULTURAL SHOW – these are traditional Sri Lankan dances accompanied by folk music that derived from the Temples. There will even be some firewalking!
Overnight at Hotel Thilanka, Kandy or similar.
Day 6
Visit the TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH which is the most visited temple in Sri Lanka and is the only temple in the world with a tooth relic of Buddha. You will visit the Temple during the ceremony to soak up the atmosphere.
After visiting the temple of the tooth do a guided tour of the GARRISON WAR CEMETERY, In town visit a HINDU TEMPLE & the ST. PAUL`S CHURCH.
Overnight at Hotel Thilanka, Kandy or similar.
Day 7
Drive through the tea plantations to Kithulgala – this is a sleepy village set beside the Kelani River surrounded by thick evergreen forest
Do either FLAT WATER RAFTING (Grade 1) or WHITE WATER RAFTING (Grade 3-over 12s only)(optional excursion – £20pp)down the Kelani River. This is a special experience as you are surrounded by thick evergreen forest. Adults and kids really love this.
Overnight at Plantation Hotel, Kithulgala or similar.
Day 8
Do a JUNGLE WALK among the hills through rainforest type vegetation ending up back in the local village. At the end of the walk you cross a suspension bridge which is the only way across to the main road.
Drive to Nuwara Eliya (“little England”) through the tea plantations – this is the best drive of your tour where you will see thousands of acres of TEA PLANTATIONS and some breath-taking views as you slowly climb up through the hills to get to “little England” which is over 6000 feet above sea level. On the way, you are sure to spot some TEA PICKERS and also some WATERFALLS.
Visit a TEA FACTORY to see just how tea is produced.
Do a city tour of NUWARA ELIYA – (this is where the colonials used to escape to when it was too hot on the coastal plains) taking in the highlights – the racecourse, Hill Club (was the centre of all colonial life), Gregory’s Lake etc. You will see some of the buildings have a distinctly British feel about them.
Overnight at St Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya or similar.
Day 9
Drive to ELLA GAP which has an amazing view of the coastal plain nearly 1,000 meters below. Almost all of the southern part of the island can be seen on a clear day.
Take a walk up LITTLE ADAMS PEAK through the TEA PLANTATIONS to enjoy the fabulous views down the Valley.
Overnight at The Planters Bungalow, Ella or similar.
Day 10
Drive to Ude Walawe and visit the ELEPHANT TRANSIT CAMP which is run by the Born Free foundation where they look after about 30 orphan baby elephants – you can watch them being fed with milk.
Do a GAME DRIVE into UDE WALAWE NATIONAL PARK to see over 50 elephants. Apart from elephants, you are likely to see crocodiles, water buffalo, deer, lizards and lots of birds.
Overnight at Kalu`s hideaway or similar.
Day 11
Drive to the South coast and visit the DUTCH FORT AT GALLE. This was originally built in 1589 and is still active and functioning. The highlights here are The Museum, Amangalla Hotel, The Dutch Church, The Light house, Clock tower and the Cricket Ground or take a walk round ramparts and imagine the sea battles that must have taken place here.
Visit a TURTLE HATCHERY where you will see some baby turtles that will be released in the sea towards early morning.
Drive to UNAWATUNA – this beautiful sheltered bay of golden sands fringed with palm trees is protected with an outer reef so there are no strong currents or large waves so is very safe for swimming.
Overnight at The Insight resort or similar.
Day 12, 13 & 14
WHALE WATCHING (extra £45pp) – only between November and April. Mirissa is the best place in Sri Lanka to do Whale Watching –with almost a guarantee that you will see a whale – the most common being Blue Whales, but there are also lots of dolphins and seasonal Sperm Whales.
DO A BOAT RIDE ON KOGGALA LAKE (extra £10pp) – there is a cinnamon farm (where you can watch them harvesting the bark and making it into bundles that we see in the shops) and a small Buddhist temple as well as being able to see the wildlife there- maybe water monitors, monkeys and birds.
Overnight at Insight resort or similar.
